Dear Ian,
Ten months ago, we were counting down the days until your arrival. We were celebrating with family and friends at baby showers, and we were getting your room all ready. Now, daddy and I can hardly believe that you're almost 1 year old. The next time I write you a letter, it will be on your first birthday.
You have grown up so much in the last 2 months. Not only physically, but also developmentally. You're now crawling "normally" (no more belly-flop crawl), and you're pulling up to your feet and cruising around. You get in to EVERYTHING, and daddy had to put locks on all of the kitchen cabinets. We also have to keep all of the doors closed when you're "roaming free" in the house. You like to do a few things that you're not supposed to do, like pull the dirt out of the plant and play in the cats' food and water dishes. We will tell you "no," and you look up at us and smile. It's so hard to be upset when you give us your little grin. You're favorite game is to open and close doors...over and over. You also like to open up your dresser drawers and pull your clothes out. Silly boy!
You have continued to sleep like a champ. Bedtime is between 8-9pm every night, and you sleep until mommy wakes you up at 6:15am to eat. After that, you go right back to sleep until about 9am. You generally take a morning nap and an afternoon nap. If you stay on your schedule, then you're pretty happy all day long! When you sleep, you look adorable! We often see you asleep with your knees underneath you, and your little bottom in the air. It is just precious! You are impossible to keep covered up with a blanket, and you like to sleep with your paci. When you wake up in the morning, you are all smiles. We go into your room, and you're always standing up with a big smile.
I have never seen another baby so active! You are CONSTANTLY moving! You crawl all over the house, exploring every single room. You're so inquisitive and spent time pondering every little item that you come across. You're favorite "game" is to open and close doors. It's pretty funny when you crawl over to the glass front door, stand up, and start making a loud, long "call"....I call it your battle cry! You're favorite toys are balls that you can chase across the floor, anything that makes noise or has buttons, your stuffed animals that "talk," and anything that is NOT a toy (i.e. things you pull of of shelves, trinkets that you find, etc.) You also like to "strum" daddy's guitar, so we got you your own little electric guitar toy...you seem to like that one a lot. Your favorite book is "Ten Little Ladybugs." You love to touch the ladybugs, and you spend a lot time opening up the book and looking at all of the pages.
Bath time is still one of your favorite times. You sit in the tub like a big boy now, and you generally stand up too (which mama would prefer you didn't do!). You like to pull all of your shampoo and body wash bottles off of the side of the tub and into the water. You also like to drop toys over the side. After your bath, we have our little nighttime routine...diaper, vitamin, Tylenol (if needed), brush your teeth, lotion massage, and put on your jammies. You do not like lying on your back, so mama has to distract you with things. Sometimes we sing songs, and you really enjoy that!
One of your other favorite times is meal time! You are great at eating solid foods now, and we're moving past the purees. You like to pick up your own food and feed yourself. Some foods we've tried are chicken, deli meats, steak, shredded cheese, green beans, peas, carrots, pasta noodles, goldfish crackers, and Gerber snacks. You seem to really like meat and cheese. You also like to eat yogurt and applesauce. You've mastered drinking out of a sippy cup, and recently, you've started holding it yourself. You still aren't quite sure how to tilt the cup to get a drink, but if it's full, you can get the drink yourself. You still like to snack on Mum Mums and yogurt bites.
When mommy and daddy are at work, you are still staying with Mikah. She tells us how much you like to play with Karly and how much you like to crawl all over the house! She always says that you are such a good baby. Mommy has also been doing a kickboxing class on Monday nights. You didn't like the childcare there (too many older kids), so mommy puts you in the Pack-N-Play while we exercise. You're always so good! I think you probably think we look goofy!
Let's see...what other little details do we want to remember. You have 5 teeth now...your bottom two came in first, then two on the top...like fangs! Now, one of your top middle teeth has broken through. You're wearing 9-12 month clothes, and you're still long and lean. At your 9 month doctor's appointment, you were ~25% in weight and ~80% in height. You still have the little hemangioma on your back, and we've noticed a little birthmark or freckle on the back of your right shoulder. By the way you play, we think you're going to be right-handed. You're most recent "skill" has been learning to clap. When mommy or daddy say "yaaaayyy," you start to clap and say "yay." It's precious and we would try to get you to clap all day if we could! You're "talking" a lot more and seem to say "dada" and "mama" intentionally...sometimes. You like to grab faces, especially other babies and mommy's face when she's feeding you.
Well, I think that provides a good summary of how you're doing at 10 months. Your first birthday is approaching quickly, and we don't want to forget any of the precious details about you right now. We love you more than words can say, and we thank God everyday for putting you in our lives.
Love, Mommy and Daddy
6 years ago